Michael Nyman: On The Fiddle For Violin And Piano

On The Fiddle consists of three pieces derived from scores to three Peter Greenaway films. The first piece Full Fathom Five, is a version of the Shakespeare song setting made for Prospero's Books (1990). The second 'Angelfish Decay', is an arrangement of an arrangement: the music for the speeded up time lapse decaying animal sequences in A Zed And Two Noughts (1985) was written for two violins and a harpsichord. This was subsequently 'reduced' to a violin solo for Zoo Caprices (1986). For 'On The Fiddle' a piano part has been added. The final piece 'Miserere Paraphrase', was written for use in The Cook, The Thief, His Wife And Her Lover (1989), and is a transcription of Nyman's setting of the 'Miserere' text (Psalm 51) sung in the film by a boy soprano and mixed chorus. First performed on 27 August 1993. Duration c.15 mins. Score and part included.